Akia Automotive is building 50 electric buses for Istanbul

Turkish bus manufacturer Akia Automotive will build 50 electric buses for use in Istanbul. The local company won the relevant bid and plans to deliver them by next year.

Image: Akia Automotive

Akia Automotive claims to have received the contract from IETT General Directorate (Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Enterprises) to build electric buses. The order is said to be “the first major tender for electric buses in Turkey,” according to the Istanbul-based company founded in 2013, as stated in a message sent to us via email. Starting in 2027, Akia will manufacture 50 units of its electric single-decker bus, the Ultra LF12EV, for Istanbul. Akia produces this model in the Turkish city of Bursa.

The Akia Ultra LF12EV is a low-floor city bus equipped with a 240-kW electric motor and a battery with a capacity of 465 kWh. According to the manufacturer, it can carry up to 80 passengers. Thanks to a wheelchair ramp, the Ultra LF12EV is also designed to be accessible for passengers with mobility impairments.

The driver has access to a range of driver assistance systems and a digital camera system instead of traditional side mirrors on board. Operators can also use a modern telematics system to retrieve real-time data on battery status, energy consumption, and overall fleet performance.

The Akia Ultra LF12EV has already been exported to international markets according to the manufacturer, including Serbia. A large-scale rollout in Istanbul is also planned for 2027. Akia’s management summarized, “The project to acquire 50 buses from AKIA represents a significant step in transitioning Turkey’s public transportation to electric power, while also helping to promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility solutions in urban areas.”

_Source: via email_